Universal faucet handles

ABSTRACT

Handle assemblies for coupling to a shaft are provided. Each assembly includes a handle having an end wall with a fastener passage extending therethrough and a side wall extending from the end wall to an open end. In one embodiment, an adapter assembly includes a nut, a collet having a fastener portion carrying the nut and a compression portion receiving the shaft, and a clamp mounted on the compression portion and tightened around the compression portion to compress the collet to the shaft. A fastener extends through the fastener passage and into the nut. In another embodiment, the handle defines a conical pocket in communication with the fastener passage. An adapter in the pocket includes circumferentially spaced jaws having conical outer surfaces and inner surfaces engaging the shaft and hinged connectors extending circumferentially between adjacent jaws. A fastener extends through the fastener passage and into the shaft.

BACKGROUND a. Field

This disclosure relates generally to handle assemblies configured forcoupling to a shaft. More specifically, this disclosure pertains tohandle assemblies that are configured for attachment to shafts despitevariations in the size of the shaft and the form of the handle.

b. Background Art

Handles for use in rotating shafts are used in a variety ofapplications. In faucets used in kitchen and bathroom sinks, tubs andshowers, for example, faucet handles allow users to rotate a valve stemused to control the flow of water. Faucet handles are provided in a widevariety of forms in order to meet functional and aesthetic objectives.Further, the valve stems to which the handles are attached may vary insize. As a result, it is often necessary to produce multiple versions ofany given faucet handle to accommodate potential uses of the handle.Alternatively, mechanisms can be employed to adapt a faucet handle todifferent valve stems. Existing mechanisms, however, are oftenrelatively complex and expensive to implement.

The inventors herein have recognized a need for a handle assembly thatwill overcome one or more of the above-identified deficiencies.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A handle assembly configured for coupling to a shaft is provided. Inparticular, a handle assembly is provided that enables attachment of ahandle to a shaft despite variations in the size and form of the handleand shaft.

A handle assembly configured for coupling to a shaft in accordance withone embodiment includes a handle having an end wall with a fastenerpassage extending therethrough and a side wall extending away from theend wall to an open end. The handle assembly further includes an adapterassembly. The adapter assembly includes a nut, a collet having acompression portion configured to receive the shaft and a fastenerportion configured to carry the nut; and a clamp configured for mountingon the compression portion and to be tightened around the compressionportion to compress the collet to the shaft. The handle assembly furtherincludes a fastener configured to extend through the fastener passageand to threadingly couple to the nut.

A handle assembly configured for coupling to a shaft in accordance withanother embodiment includes a handle having an end wall with a fastenerpassage extending therethrough and a side wall extending away from theend wall to an open end and defining a conical pocket in communicationwith the fastener passage. The handle assembly further includes anadapter configured to be received within the conical pocket. The adapterhas a plurality of circumferentially spaced jaws having conical outersurfaces and inner surfaces configured to engage the shaft and hingedconnectors extending circumferentially between adjacent jaws of theplurality of circumferentially spaced jaws. The handle assembly furtherincludes a fastener configured to extend through the fastener passageand to threadingly couple to the shaft.

The foregoing and other aspects, features, details, utilities, andadvantages of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent from readingthe following description and claims, and from reviewing theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a handleassembly configured for coupling to a shaft.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the handle assembly of FIG.1.

FIGS. 3-4 are perspective views of a collet of the handle assembly ofFIGS. 1-2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a handleassembly configured for coupling to a shaft.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a handle and adaptersubassembly of the handle assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the handle assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the handle assembly of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 9-10 are perspective views of an adapter of the handle assembly ofFIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are usedto identify identical components in the various views, FIGS. 1-2illustrate one embodiment of a handle assembly 20 for coupling to ashaft 22. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, shaft22 may comprise a faucet stem and handle assembly 20 may be adapted foruse as a faucet handle for rotating the faucet stem and controlling theflow of water in a bathroom or kitchen sink, a tub or a shower. Handleassembly 20 includes a handle 24, an adapter assembly 26 and a fastener28.

Handle 24 provides a surface that can be gripped by a hand or tool inorder to rotate shaft 22 about an axis 30. Referring to FIG. 2, handle24 defines an end wall 32 at one axial end of handle 24. End wall 32includes a fastener passage 34 extending through end wall 32 andconfigured to receive fastener 28. End wall 32 may define a fastenerrecess 36 on an exterior side of end wall 32 that is configured toreceive a head of fastener 28. A removable cap (not shown) may encloserecess 36 for aesthetics and/or to limit or prevent contact betweenfastener 28 and moisture in surrounding environment. Handle 24 furtherincludes a side wall 38 that extends axially from end wall 32 to an openend and defines an interior of handle 24. In the illustrated embodiment,side wall 38 is generally conical in shape. It should be understood,however, that the shape of end wall 32 and side wall 38 may vary. Handle24 further defines a boss 40 that extends axially away from end wall 32within the interior of handle 24. Boss 40 is spaced radially inwardlyfrom side wall 38 and may be centered within the interior of handle 24.Boss 40 is configured to engage adapter assembly 26. Fastener passage 34extends through boss 40. Boss 40 defines a cavity 42 that iscommunication with fastener passage 34 and is configured to receive aportion of adapter assembly 26 as described in greater detail below.Referring to FIG. 1, one axial end of boss 40 distant from end wall 32defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses 44 configuredto receive another portion of adapter assembly 26 as described ingreater detail below. Recesses 44 axially locate assembly 26 and preventrotation of assembly 26 about axis 30.

Adapter assembly 26 couples handle 24 to shaft 22. In accordance withthe present teachings, adapter assembly 26 can be used to couple handles24 having various forms to shafts 22 of various sizes. Assembly 26includes a nut 46, a collet 48 and a clamp 50.

Nut 46 cooperates with fastener 28 to secure handle 24 to shaft 22. Nut46 defines a bore with an internal thread configured to engagecorresponding threads on fastener 28. Nut 46 is supported on andretained by collet 48 as described in greater detail below. Uponassembly, nut 46 is disposed within cavity 42 in boss 40 of handle 24.

Collet 48 is provided to carry nut 46 and to couple handle 24 to shaft22. Collet 48 may be made from polymeric materials. Referring to FIGS.3-4, collet 48 includes a base flange 52 from which a fastener portion54 and a compression portion 56 extend. Base flange 52 is disposedbetween fastener portion 54 and compression portion 56 and is configuredto engage boss 40 in handle 24. In the illustrated embodiment, flange 52includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced members 58. Each member58 is configured to be received within a corresponding recess 44 in boss40 in order to axially locate collet 48 and limit axial and radialmovement of collet 48 relative to boss 40. Fastener portion 50 isprovided to retain and carry nut 46. Fastener portion 50 may include aplurality of circumferentially spaced arms 60. Each arm 60 is connectedat a first end 62 to base flange 52 and may be integrally formed withbase flange 52 (i.e., as a unitary or one-piece structure). End 62 ofeach arm 60 may form a living hinge with base flange 52 such that arms60 are capable of pivoting to allow insertion and removal of nut 46between arms 60. An opposite end 64 of each arm is configured to engagea corresponding side of nut 46 in order to inhibit release of nut 46.Upon assembly, arms 60 are located together with nut 46 within cavity 42of boss 40. Compression portion 56 is configured to receive shaft 22 andmay likewise include a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms 66.Each arm 66 is again connected to base flange 52 and may be integrallyformed with base flange 52 (i.e., as a unitary or one-piece structure).One end 68 of each arm 66 may again form a living hinge with base flange52 such that arms 66 are capable of pivoting to grip and release shaft22. An opposite end 70 of each arm 66 may include a beveled edge tofacilitate insertion of shaft 22 between arms 66. Each arm 66 is formedon a radially outer side to include opposed shoulders 72, 74. Shoulders72, 74 are sized to receive clamp 50 therebetween and to engage oppositeaxial ends of clamp 50.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-2, clamp 50 is provided to compresscompression portion 56 of collet 48 onto shaft 22 and to inhibitmovement of collet 48 relative to shaft 22. Clamp 50 may comprise a hoseclamp. Clamp 50 includes a screw 76, a screw housing 78 and a band 80into which a screw thread pattern may be cut or pressed. Band 80 has afixed end fixed to screw housing 78 and a free end that may be fed backinto screw housing 78 and engaged by screw 76. Rotation of the screw 76is then used to increase or reduce the diameter of the band 76 in orderdecompress or compress, respectively, compression portion 56 of collet48 about shaft 22. Band 80 is configured to be received betweenshoulders 72, 74 on each arm 66 of compression portion 56.

Fastener 28 threadingly couples to nut 46 in order to couple handle 24to adapter assembly 26. Fastener 28 may comprise a screw. Referring toFIG. 2, fastener 28 is configured to be inserted through fastenerpassage 34 in end wall 32 of handle 24 to a depth such that a head offastener 28 is received within recess 36 and the body of fastener 28extends into cavity 42 in boss 40 and into the threaded bore in nut 46.Fastener 28 is rotated until handle 24 is tightened against nut 46 andcollet 48 of adapter assembly 26.

A method of assembling handle assembly 20 to shaft 22 may begin with thestep of assembling nut 46 and collet 48. Referring to FIGS. 3-4, thisstep may include the substeps of deflecting arms 60 of fastener portion54 of collet 48 and inserting nut 46 between arms 60. The method maycontinue with the step of coupling the subassembly comprising nut andcollet 48 to shaft 22. It should be understood, however, that in analternative embodiment, collet 48 may be coupled to shaft 22 before thestep of assembling nut 46 and collet 48. The step of coupling collet 48to shaft 22 may include the substeps of aligning shaft 22 withcompression portion 56 of collet 48 and inserting shaft 22 between arms66 of portion 56. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the method may continue withthe step of positioning clamp 50 about compression portion 56 of collet48. It should again be understood, however, that clamp 50 mayalternatively be positioned about compression portion 56 of collet 48prior to the step of coupling collet 48 to shaft 22. The method maycontinue with the step of tightening clamp 50 to compress portion 56about shaft 22. Once adapter assembly 26 is fully assembled and coupledto shaft 22, the method may continue with the step of positioning handle24 relative to shaft 22 and adapter assembly 26. This step may includethe substeps of aligning recesses 44 in boss 40 with members 58 in baseflange 52 of collet 48 and advancing handle 24 until members 58 aredisposed within recesses 44—and nut 46 is disposed with cavity 42—inboss 40 of handle 24. The method may conclude with the step of insertingfastener 28 through fastener passage 34 in handle 24 and into nut 46 totighten handle 24 against adapter assembly 26.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another embodiment of a handle assembly 82 forcoupling to a shaft 84 is illustrated. In accordance with certainembodiments of the invention, shaft 84 may again comprise a faucet stemand handle assembly 82 may be adapted for use as a faucet handle forrotating the faucet stem and controlling the flow of water in a bathroomor kitchen sink, a tub or a shower. Although shaft 84 has a cylindricalshape having a rounded or curved outer surface in the illustratedembodiment, it should be understood that shaft 84 may assume a varietyof shapes including a square shape or other shapes that define one ormore corners. Handle assembly 82 includes a handle 86, an adapter 88 anda fastener 90.

Handle 86 provides a surface that can be gripped by a hand or tool inorder to rotate shaft 84 about an axis 92. Handle 86 may include a body94 and an insert 96 that is configured to be received within and carriedby body 94. It should be understood, however, that body 94 and insert 96could alternatively be formed as unitary (one-piece) structure.

Referring to FIG. 7, body 94 defines an end wall 98 at one axial end ofhandle 86. End wall 98 includes a fastener passage 100 extending throughend wall 98 and configured to receive fastener 90. End wall 98 maydefine a fastener recess 102 on an exterior side of end wall 98 that isconfigured to receive a head of fastener 90. A removable cap (not shown)may enclose recess 102 for aesthetics and/or to limit or prevent contactbetween fastener 90 and moisture in surrounding environment. Body 94further includes a side wall 104 that extends axially from end wall 98to an open end and defines an interior of handle 86. In particular, sidewall 104 defines a conical cavity 106 that is in communication withfastener passage 100 at one end and terminates at an opposite end in acounterbore 108 formed at the open end of body 94 and handle 86. Cavity106 and counterbore 108 are configured to receive insert 94.

Insert 96 is configured to align and retain adapter 88. Referring toFIGS. 6-8, insert 96 has a conical side wall 110 and defines a conicalpocket 112 in which adapter 88 is disposed. Insert 96 includes aradially inwardly extending end wall 114 disposed at one end of sidewall 110. End wall 114 includes a bore configured for alignment withfastener passage 100 in body 94 and through which fastener 90 mayextend. Insert 96 also includes a radially outwardly extending flange116 disposed at an opposite end of side wall 110 and configured to bereceived within counterbore 108 such that the open end of insert 96 isflush with the open end of body 94. Insert 96 further defines aplurality of circumferentially spaced, radially inwardly extending fins118 extending from side wall 110 that are configured to engage adapter88. Referring to FIG. 6, fins 118 may be substantially L-shaped in crosssection with a long leg extending along at least a portion of the lengthof side wall 110 and a short leg disposed proximate the open end ofinsert 96 and projecting radially inwardly opposite flange 116.

Adapter 88 couples handle 86 to shaft 84. In accordance with the presentteachings, adapter 88 can be used to couple handles 86 having variousforms to shafts 84 of various sizes. Adapter 88 is configured to bereceived within the conical pocket formed in insert 96 of handle 86.Referring to FIGS. 9-10, adapter 88 includes a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced jaws 120 connected by hinged connectors 122.

Each jaw 120 tapers moving from a radially outer surface 124 to aradially inner surface 126. Outer surface 124 has a substantiallyconical shape and is adapted to engage the conical surface formed inside wall 110 of insert 96. Inner surface 126 may be substantiallyconcave in shape and is configured to engage shaft 84. Each jaw mayfurther define a slot 128 configured to receive a corresponding fin 118upon insertion within insert 96 of handle 86 as show in FIGS. 7-8.Referring again to FIGS. 9-10, slots 128 may have a shape that iscomplementary to the shape of fins 118. Accordingly, in the illustratedembodiment, slots 128 are substantially L-shaped with a long legextending in a substantially axial direction along the length of adapter88 and a short leg extending inwardly in a substantially radialdirection and located at one axial end of adapter 88.

Connectors 122 couple jaws 120 and enable radial movement of jaws 120 toincrease or decrease a diameter of adapter 88. Connectors 122 extendcircumferentially between circumferentially adjacent jaws 120. Eachconnector may include a pair of leaves 130. Each leaf 130 has onecircumferential end connected to a corresponding jaw 120 and forming ahinge with the jaw 120. Each leaf 130 has another circumferential endconnected to the other leaf 130 and forming a hinge with the other leaf130. The circumferential ends of the leaves 130 that are connected tojaws 120 (and the hinges formed with jaws 120) may be located furtheroutward radially than the circumferential ends that are connected to anadjoining leaf 130 (and the hinges formed between adjacent leaves 130)and may be connected to jaws 120 at or proximate to outer surface 124 ofeach jaw 120. Because jaws 120 are circumferentially spaced from oneanother and capable of radially inward and outward movement throughconnectors 122, adapter 88 is capable of receiving shafts in variousshapes and sizes. For example, adapter 88 is capable of coupling ahandle 86 to a square shaft with the inner surface 126 of each jaw 120engaging a flat of the square shaft and the corners of the square shaftdisposed between circumferentially adjacent jaws 120.

Referring again to FIG. 7, fastener 90 threadingly couples to shaft 84in order to couple handle assembly 82 to shaft 84. Fastener 90 maycomprise a screw. Fastener 90 is configured to be inserted throughfastener passage 100 in end wall 98 of body 94 and through the alignedbore in insert 96 and then inserted within a threaded bore in shaft 84.The head of fastener 90 is received within recess 102. As fastener 90 isrotated, shaft 84 and adapter 88 are drawn further into the conicalpocket 112 formed in insert 96 of handle 86. This movement forces jaws120 radially inward against shaft 84 to tighten handle assembly 82 ontoshaft 84.

A method of assembling handle assembly 82 to shaft 84 may begin with thestep of aligning adapter 88 with insert 96 such that slots 128 in jaws120 of adapter 88 are aligned with fins 118 in insert 96. The method mayfurther include the step of compressing adapter 88 to reduce thediameter of adapter 88 prior to insertion within insert 96. It should beunderstood that the alignment and compression steps could be performedin any order. The method may continue with the step of inserting adapter88 into the conical pocket 112 in insert 96 of handle 86 such that theouter surface 124 of each jaw 120 engages side wall 110 and an axial endof adapter 88 is spaced from end wall 114 of insert 96. In a subsequentstep, the subassembly of the handle 86 and adapter 88 may be mounted toshaft 84 such that the inner surfaces 126 of each jaw 120 face theradially outer surface of shaft 84. In certain embodiments, surfaces 126may engage the radially outer surface of shaft 84. The method maycontinue with the step of inserting fastener 90 through fastener passage100 in end wall 98 of handle 86 and into a threaded bore in shaft 84.Thereafter, fastener 90 may be rotated to draw handle 86 further ontoshaft 84. This action also draws adapter 88 towards end wall 114 ininsert 96. Because the outer surface 124 of each jaw 120 engages sidewall 110 of insert 96 and because the side wall 110 tapers towards endwall 114 of insert 96, the movement of adapter 88 towards end wall 114radially compresses jaws 120 against shaft 84.

A handle assembly 20 or 82 for coupling to a shaft 22 or 84 inaccordance with the present teachings is advantageous relative toconventional handle assemblies. In particular, the inventive assemblies20 and 82 enable attachment of a handle 24 or 86 to a shaft 22 or 84despite variations in the size and form of the handle 24 or 86 and shaft22 or 84 and do so in a way that is less complex and less expensive thanconventional handle assemblies.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to oneor more particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseof skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A handle assembly configured for coupling to a shaft,comprising: a handle having an end wall with a fastener passageextending therethrough and a side wall extending away from the end wallto an open end; an adapter assembly including a nut, a collet having acompression portion configured to receive the shaft and including aplurality of circumferentially spaced arms having a base flange, and afastener portion configured to carry the nut, and a clamp configured formounting on the compression portion and to be tightened around thecompression portion to compress the collet to the shaft; and a fastenerconfigured to extend through the fastener passage and to threadinglycouple to the nut.
 2. The handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the handleincludes a boss extending away from the end wall and spaced radiallyinwardly from the side wall, the boss configured to engage the adapterassembly.
 3. The handle assembly of claim 2, wherein the base flange isbetween the compression portion and fastener portion, the base flangeconfigured to engage the boss.
 4. The handle assembly of claim 3,wherein the boss defines a plurality of circumferentially spacedrecesses.
 5. The handle assembly of claim 2 wherein the fastener passageextends through the boss.
 6. The handle assembly of claim 2 wherein theboss defines a cavity configured to receive the nut and the fastenerportion of the collet.
 7. The handle assembly of claim 1 wherein thefastener portion includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms.8. The handle assembly of claim 7 wherein each of the plurality ofcircumferentially spaced arms defines a living hinge at one end.
 9. Thehandle assembly of claim 1 wherein the compression portion defines firstand second shoulders configured to engage opposite axial ends of theclamp.
 10. The handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the shaft is a faucetstem and the handle is a faucet handle.
 11. The handle assembly of claim1, wherein the nut has a bore with an internal thread.
 12. The handleassembly of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a boss extending awayfrom the end wall of the handle and having a cavity in communicationwith the fastener passage and also having an axial end with a pluralityof circumferentially spaced recesses.
 13. A handle assembly, comprising:a handle including an end wall with a fastener passage extendingtherethrough and a side wall extending away from the end wall to an openend and defining an interior of the handle; and an adapter assemblyconfigured to be coupled to the handle, and including: a collet having acompression portion, and including a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced pivotable arms having a base flange, and a fastener portion; anut having a bore with an internal thread and configured to be carriedby the fastener portion of the collet; and a clamp configured to becarried by the compression portion of the collet.
 14. The handleassembly of claim 13 wherein the fastener portion of the collet includesa plurality of circumferentially spaced pivotable arms to facilitateinsertion and removal of the nut.
 15. The handle assembly of claim 13wherein the compression portion of the collet defines first and secondshoulders configured to engage opposite axial ends of the clamp.
 16. Thehandle assembly of claim 13 wherein the handle includes a boss extendingaway from the end wall of the handle within the interior of the handle,being spaced radially inwardly from the side wall of the handle, andhaving a cavity in communication with the fastener passage, and whereinthe fastener portion of the collet and the nut are configured to bereceived in the cavity of the boss of the handle.
 17. The handleassembly of claim 13 wherein the handle includes a boss extending awayfrom the end wall of the handle within the interior of the handle, beingspaced radially inwardly from the side wall of the handle, and having anaxial end with a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses, andwherein the base flange is configured to be correspondingly received inthe recesses of the boss of the handle.
 18. A handle assembly,comprising: a handle including: an end wall with a fastener passageextending therethrough; a side wall extending away from the end wall toan open end and defining an interior of the handle; and a boss extendingaway from the end wall of the handle within the interior of the handle,being spaced radially inwardly from the side wall of the handle, havinga cavity in communication with the fastener passage, and having an axialend with a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses; and a colletincluding a plurality of arms, the arms including: a base flange havinga plurality of circumferentially spaced members configured to becorrespondingly received in the recesses of the boss of the handle; acompression portion extending in a direction away from the base flangeand having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pivotable arms; and afastener portion extending in an opposite direction away from the baseflange, and configured to be received in the cavity of the boss of thehandle.